Newsboy fancies his nap, Almaqam, to win at Sandown and also hopes Opera Ballo can score on the same card and complete his Daily Double
ALMAQAM is fancied to inflict a first career defeat on market rival Ombudsman with a win in the Group 3 Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (7.35) at Sandown this evening.Ed Walker’s son of Lope De Vega, who won the Heron Stakes on this card 12 months ago, ended his 2024 campaign with a head second to Jayarebe in the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp last October.
And there was plenty of promise in Almaqam’s return to action in the Group 3 Gordon Richard Stakes over this course and distance 34 days ago.Ridden by Tom Marquand – Oisín Murphy is in the plate tonight – my selection was keeping on from the back when being tightened for room inside the final furlong, eventually taking third, beaten a length and a quarter, behind Al Aasy.The four-year-old would have gone close granted clear water and, with his first start for 2002 expected to bring him on, Almaqam gets the vote to get back to winning ways.
After a below-par sixth to Field Of Gold in Newmarket’s Group 3 Craven Stakes last month, OPERA BALLO is given the chance to redeem his reputation in the Listed Star Sports Heron Stakes (8.05).The Charlie Appleby-saddled colt had impressed in two victories at Kempton at the start of the year and it’s early days to be writing him off.
THURSDAY’S SELECTIONS
RIPON2.20 ALEX SUPREME2.50 MARTHA COSTELLO3.20 RUMBA BAY3.50 HOVE SECRET4.20 ISHE WORTH AGAMBLE4.55 MASEKELA5.30 COSMIC RAJYARMOUTH2.10 CREATE2.40 MAN OF VISION3.10 MISS CARTESIAN3.40 SIR EDWARD LEAR4.10 SPINNING WHEEL4.45 SCARBOROUGHWARNING5.20 FLAT OF ST GEORGESANDOWN6.05 ROCKIN’ THE BOAT6.35 FIRST LEGION7.05 TRAWLERMAN7.35 ALMAQAM (NAP)8.05 OPERA BALLO (NB)8.40 GOLDEN OCEANCARLISLE5.50 ARANTES NASCIMENTO6.20 SIR GARFIELD6.50 SHOWTOWN7.20 WATER OF LEITH7.50 LITTLE TED8.20 PUSH THE LIMIT8.50 HILL O RUELINGFIELD2.30 SMITH3.00 PROMETEO3.30 MISS HERSCHEL4.00 HEADMASTER4.30 OLDBURY LAD5.05 STEP ALONGDOUBLE: ALMAQAM and OPERA BALLOEND
